The Award-Winning Series Continues: The Art And Culture Center/Hollywood Unveils Its Third Documentary Film Short

The evening begins at 6:00 p.m. with a Red-Carpet Reception with the film’s cast members, followed by a Screening of the film at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free and donations are accepted. Parking is available on site.

Queer Allies offers the stories and lived experiences of people who identify as LGBTQ+ (Queer) and those who love and support them. Due to heightened sensitivities on this subject, young people 14 years of age and younger must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to view this film.

This premiere of the third film in the Center’s Open Dialogues Film Series is being presented as part of 10 Days of Connection, celebrated each year from May 1-10 to challenge divisiveness through community events.

Directed by Award-Winning Filmmaker Freddy Rodriguez, Open Dialogues: Queer Allies features deeply moving interviews and performances that focus on the critical role of allies in empowering young people in their coming-out experience. Photographed in black-and-white, the 25-minute film includes a performance by Dance Now! Miami Dancers David Harris and Anthony Velazquez and a reading by Terry Dyer from his book, Letters To A Gay Black Boy.

The six community members interviewed on camera represent a diverse range of Allyship Perspectives. Deanna Muniz is the mother of a transgender son and works with the Broward Nonprofits TransSOCIAL Project and the McKenzie Project. Terry Dyer is Executive Director of The World AIDS Museum. Tatiana Williams is Co-Founder of Transinclusive Group. Paulino Mejia is an Artist and Landscaper of Mayan background who identifies as Two Spirit. Carolina Gutierrez is a Digital Organizer for Engage Miami and her ally Lisa La Monica Braun, is the School Ally For Equality (SAFE) Liaison at Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High.

Queer Allies is the third Open Dialogues Film produced by the Center, following the 2020 Short Stories From the LGBTQ Community and 2022’s Black Voices | Black Stories.

“The Center is thrilled to build upon the success of our Open Dialogues film project with Queer Allies,” said Joy Satterlee, the Center’s Executive Director. “This film is emotional and inspiring as it illustrates the power of human empathy to change lives.”

Support
Open Dialogues is funded by a grant from the Community Foundation of Broward as part of its Art of Community initiative, which utilizes the arts to raise awareness and affect positive change on social issues in Broward County, Florida.

Support for Open Dialogues: Queer Allyship was provided by the following Funds at the Community Foundation of Broward: Helen and Frank Stoykov Charitable Endowment Fund, Frederick W. Jaqua Fund, Deinhardt Charitable Fund, Ruth H. Brown Fund For The Arts and The Anna Bloeser Fund.

The Art And Culture Center/Hollywood is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization supported in part by its members, admissions, private entities, the City of Hollywood; the Broward County Cultural Division, the Cultural Council, and the Broward County Board of County Commissioners; the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts; the David and Francie Horvitz Family Foundation; the Josephine S. Leiser Foundation, and the Helen Ingham Foundation. We welcome donations from all members of the community who wish to support our work.

To RSVP for the event call: (954) 921-3274. Or for more information, visit: www.artandculturecenter.org